The two of you, come at me together.

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Chang’an Fang went into the inner room to answer the phone. After saying “Hello,” he heard Shen Mo’s voice on the other end: “Chang’an Fang, why are you calling me?”

Chang’an Fang couldn’t help but laugh. “Weren’t you the one who called me first?”

“Nonsense! You clearly called me first; even Grandma told me.”

“I dialed the wrong number.”

The young girl evidently realized he was teasing her. She seemed to pout on the other end and huffed sharply. “I’m hanging up then!”

“Wait, wait, don’t hang up.”

Chang’an Fang hurriedly pleaded, “Just joking. Didn’t Liu Bei say last year that when summer comes and the river is shallow, we should call her to catch fish together? I just wanted to ask if you have Liu Bei’s home number.”

“So that’s what you wanted to ask?”

“Exactly!”

There was another sharp “Hmph!” from the other side, sounding gruff and annoyed.

Chang’an Fang laughed again. “Are you free? If you are, come along to play too.”

“Just as an afterthought?” The girl spoke with some pride. “Then I won’t come!”

“All right, all right, I’m just teasing. The main reason is I want you to come; the others are just extras.”

Chang’an Fang smiled, then, thinking that his mother was still listening outside, added, “After all, the others can come anytime, it’s just you…”

He had been smiling, but then paused and lowered his voice. “I’m leaving soon. Once in the city, it’ll be hard to find a river to catch fish.”

Shen Mo had been smiling too, but fell silent at that. Chang’an Fang sensed he had unintentionally dampened her mood and quickly said, “Alright, alright, enough of this. You call Liu Bei, I’ll call the others.”

“Okay, I’ll call the girls, you call the boys… When?”

“Up to you.”

“Then tomorrow. I’m going to Grandma’s in the morning.”

“Fine, but it’s best if you come in the afternoon; otherwise, it’ll be too hot.”

“Mm.”

Chang’an Fang hung up and called Chen Yu, who was relatively free, to ask him to contact the boys. Then he went back to eat.

Cong Rong had obviously been listening to the call and asked, “Who’s leaving?”

“Shen Mo. She’s transferring to the city’s No. 1 High School next semester.”

Cong Rong was a little surprised but said nothing, then asked, “Isn’t No. 1 High School for high schoolers?”

“They have junior high too. Our town and even the county’s No. 1 High School both have junior and senior levels.”

Cong Rong thought it over and nodded, seeming to be pondering something. Then, studying Chang’an Fang’s expression, he asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Cong Rong sighed and comforted him, “Study hard. When you take the high school entrance exam and get into the city’s No. 1 High School, then we can meet again.”

“What are you thinking about?”

Chang’an Fang felt speechless; it seemed his mother was thinking more than he was. “Even if I want to get into the city’s No. 1 High School, it’s for myself, to attend a better school. What does that have to do with Shen Mo?”

Cong Rong nodded. “Mm, that’s right.”

When you pretend to believe something, could you please manage your expression a bit?

Chang’an Fang didn’t want to argue and just focused on his meal.

Chen Yu called back. Of the boys who came last year, except for Kan Xi, who was going to the county, the others would come; they had even added two more. Shen Mo also called back later. The girls who came last year would come again, along with Liu Bei and Mao Shanshan.

The next day was another bright sunny day. After lunch, Chang’an Fang spread a cooling mat under the big locust tree at the door and sat down to read. Chang Ming and Fang Dianzhou, along with a few other children, didn’t mind the heat and ran around playing everywhere.

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Yanan Fang had been a bit more obedient this year under Chang’an Fang’s guidance and sat with her older brother on the mat reading. But she was reading picture books and comics that Chang’an Fang had bought when he came home, including Andersen’s Fairy Tales, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Calabash Brothers, and Nezha Conquers the Dragon King.

Summer made one drowsy easily. Chang’an Fang read a while, then napped with his head resting on the book. Half-awake, he heard familiar voices but didn’t pay much attention, turned over, and continued sleeping. Then he heard a burst of laughter and groggily opened his eyes.

He saw Shen Mo and Wang Ke’s pretty little faces very close; Shen Mo was grabbing Wang Ke’s hair, trying to tickle him, while Wang Ke resisted, tugging at her hair.

Chang’an Fang found it both surprising and amusing and laughed instinctively. Then he heard more laughter, opened his eyes again, and was fully awake. Under the shade of the tree were all the pretty girls from class—Shen Mo, Wang Ke, Wang Yuwei, Liu Bei, Zhang Jing, Mao Shanshan—without missing a single one. Even Fang Dianqiu was there, along with Feng Yanyan and Zhou Xiaoyan.

“Awake?” Chen Yu bent over and stared at Chang’an Fang, shouting loudly as if doing a Buddhist lion’s roar.

“Buzz off!” Chang’an Fang snapped irritably, sighed in relief, shook his head, yawned, looked at the tree’s shade and said, “What time is it? Didn’t I tell you to come later?”

Shen Mo eagerly replied, “The earlier, the more fun. Aren’t you done sleeping? Let’s go.”

“It’s too hot now. Let’s sit here and play a while. I’ll get another mat.”

Chang’an Fang stood up. Chen Yu suggested, “Why don’t we play cards?”

Chang’an Fang laughed, “Okay, Qiuqiu, how many decks do you have at home?”

Although Cong Rong hated playing cards, he only cared about the three siblings and didn’t forbid everyone else. Fang Dianqiu’s family had two decks and brought them along, also contributing a mat. Chang’an Fang took another from home, making three mats laid out under the tree’s shade.

Chang’an Fang didn’t play cards, so he took out chess and Go… well, Gomoku, and spread them out, calling, “Anyone want to play chess with me? I’ve been undefeated at home for a long time.”

“Tch!”

Before anyone else could speak, Wang Ke scoffed disdainfully, “I can beat you.”

Chang’an Fang smiled, “Good for you, but that doesn’t mean I’m bad.”

Shen Mo asked Wang Ke, “Have you played him?”

“Yeah, right after school started.”

Wang Ke nodded proudly, “He couldn’t beat me.”

Shen Mo said, “Then I’ll play you.”

Chen Yu said, “Me too. Not to brag, but I won a chess prize in elementary school!”

Wang Ke raised her hand, “I want to play chess with you too; I haven’t ever played chess with you.”

“Then Chen Yu, you play cards first. I’ll take these two down.”

Chang’an Fang heartlessly pushed Chen Yu aside, taking chess in his left hand and Gomoku in his right, arrogantly telling Shen Mo and Wang Ke, “You two team up.”

Seeing his arrogance, the two girls glanced at each other, then turned to look at him skeptically. “Can you really do it?”

“You’ll see if you try. I guarantee I’ll crush you both.”

“Tch!”

The girls naturally didn’t believe him and teamed up. Wang Ke played chess with Chang’an Fang while Shen Mo played Gomoku.

Those not playing cards gathered around, watching Chang’an Fang take on two opponents. Even the card players frequently glanced over, surprised to see Chang’an Fang multitasking with chess and Gomoku, playing quite skillfully.

Unfortunately, after a short while, Chang’an Fang carelessly lost a rook in chess and in Gomoku made a fatal move, allowing Shen Mo to form a double three and win both games. Chess could continue, but Gomoku was lost outright.

“Another round, another round.”

Seeing Wang Ke wasn’t done, Shen Mo excitedly wanted to play again, and Chang’an Fang obliged, only to lose once more.

The chess game seemed affected as well; he made a poor move, and Wang Ke captured another rook, and it looked like a total defeat was imminent.

Sure enough, after a few more moves, Wang Ke’s forces pressed in, and Chang’an Fang was overwhelmed and soundly defeated.

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Shen Mo seemed genuinely happy just to see Chang’an Fang lose. Having won two Gomoku games, she gave the board to someone else, who was Chen Yu. Seeing Chang’an Fang lose three consecutive rounds, Chen Yu thought he was easy to beat and eagerly came over to continue playing Gomoku.

Meanwhile, Chang’an Fang was still struggling under Wang Ke’s attack, holding off desperately, but with one hand he decisively defeated Chen Yu’s Gomoku. Chen Yu, unhappy with his loss, demanded another round, only to lose again.

Chen Yu hadn’t played much Gomoku before. Seeing he couldn’t beat Chang’an Fang, and after Chang’an Fang lost in chess, they switched games. Wu Di continued playing Gomoku against Chang’an Fang and was also defeated.

Chen Yu’s chess skills were decent, but Chang’an Fang, who had dabbled in Go and chess for a while, didn’t go easy on him. Chen Yu had no chance, and soon his chess game was lost. Unwilling to give up, he played another round and lost again.

“This doesn’t make sense!” Chen Yu scratched his head, confused. He didn’t think Chang’an Fang was that good. Not only did he not find him impressive playing chess against Wang Ke, but even after he himself lost, he didn’t think Chang’an Fang was all that great. So how did he keep losing?

“Aiya, you’re so dumb. Let me try.”

Wang Yuwei, seeing Chen Yu lose two games, stepped up to play chess against Chang’an Fang. She was somewhat mature for her age. Since visiting Chang’an Fang’s home last year, she was no longer as enthusiastic as before but remained polite.

Chang’an Fang had no bad impressions of her. She was one of his earliest supporters in class and quite pretty, so he didn’t go easy on her but only won in the endgame by advancing a soldier across the river to checkmate her king.

The group played cards and chess under the shade until the sun began to set and it was no longer so hot. Chang’an Fang went home to get a basin, then borrowed three more from Fang Dianqiu and his uncle’s house. Together, they called out and headed to the riverbank.

With more people this time and the river shallower and longer than the last section they chose, they dug mud, built dams, and splashed water. The girls—Shen Mo and the others—watched from the shade on the shore. Not afraid of the sun, they occasionally came closer to chat.

Once the water was sufficiently splashed around, the experienced girls took off their sandals, excitedly wading in. Wang Ke didn’t need to be urged. She kicked off her sandals, her snow-white feet bare, and holding hands with Shen Mo, carefully stepped into the water, excitedly saying, “Wow, it’s still warm!”

Chang’an Fang had wanted to be enthusiastic and steady them, but seeing no opportunity, he pursed his lips and busied himself catching fish nearby. This time, the area was larger, and though there were three more people, it didn’t feel crowded. Everyone shouted and laughed as they caught fish, their joyful voices carrying far. Occasional passersby working in the fields looked over from a distance.

The golden slanting sunlight bathed the earth, painting the river stretching to the horizon, the fields, and the willow trees into a beautiful picture. Chang’an Fang felt like he was inside a painting, occasionally turning to see Shen Mo and Wang Ke holding hands, stepping in the shallow muddy water catching fish. Each catch brought them joy for a long time, and he couldn’t help but smile with them.

Over the year, the two girls had grown taller. Wang Ke was nearly 1.6 meters tall, her face fuller and beginning to shed some of its childishness, slowly showing the delicate, lively beauty of a young maiden—pure and radiant.

Shen Mo was still the shortest, having grown only three centimeters to about 1.55 meters. Her skin was as white as snow, delicate as jade, still looking like a child.

“There, there!”

The two girls excitedly chased a vigorously swimming grass carp that wagged its tail. It escaped to Chang’an Fang’s feet. He bent down and scooped up the fish. The two girls looked up simultaneously, annoyed, glaring at him.

“Ah, don’t catch it! It’s ours!”

Shen Mo, familiar and casual with Chang’an Fang, anxiously stamped her feet in the muddy water, whining in a cute voice, then suddenly noticed the splashing mud and apologized to Wang Ke repeatedly.

Wang Ke, not bothering to roll up her mud-soaked pants, held Shen Mo’s hand with one and frantically gestured in the air with the other. Perhaps influenced by Shen Mo, she also used a coaxing tone: “Put it down, put it down! Don’t snatch our…”

Chang’an Fang, holding the mud-covered grass carp, handed it over. The two girls refused, saying, “Put it down, put it back in the water. We’ll catch it ourselves.”

“Boring.”

Chang’an Fang snorted scornfully and casually threw the fish into a nearby shallow pool. The two girls immediately excitedly held hands and stepped into the mud to catch it again.

The unlucky grass carp, having already been caught once, seemed to feel it was no longer clean. Its will to survive was obviously weaker this time, and it was quickly caught.

Shen Mo carefully cradled the fish in her hands, proudly showing it off to Chang’an Fang. “Look! Look! We caught it, right?”

“Mm! Mm!” Chang’an Fang nodded. “Awesome! Really awesome!”

Hearing his coaxing tone, the two girls simultaneously scoffed disdainfully, put the fish into a nearby basin, washed their hands in the water, and held hands again to hunt for the next catch.